A great collection of recipes including vegetarian and vegan adaptations from the Filipino culture with stories and lots of pretty images too!
Hazel
No special equipment? No rock salt? no pre-chilling? Yes, it IS just that simple!
John
A great resource from purees to finger foods to family meals, these recipes include easy and interesting ways to introduce a variety of foods. Our favorite so far is Chickpea & Broccoli. Next up: Bulgur, Eggplant, & Yogurt and Red Lentil, Carrot, & Coconut Milk.
Katie
I love Italy, the place, and Italian, the cuisine - this book is a gorgeous amalgamation of both. The essence of the book is recipes, but it is chock-full of food culture (pieces about great chefs, restaurateurs, Italian food movies), gastronomy (everything you want to know about Italian breads, olives, pastas, etc.), geography (the ingredients, specialities and wines of the different regions); in short, everything you want to know about Italian food with magnificent photographs and gorgeous graphics to increase the salivation factor. An Encyclopedia Italica of food.
David
More than a recipe book, Grist is a (mostly vegetarian) guide to cooking with beans, grains, and legumes. Berens offers seasonal variations, versatile condiments to keep in the fridge, and endless inspiration for cooking one big pot and eating all week. I've made some recipes exactly as written and used others as jumping off points, and all have been delicious.
Katie
I like cookbooks a lot for the beautiful photography, but as someone who treats recipes more like suggestions than gospel, I find a lot of them limiting. "Best Ever Mac and Cheese!" Oh yeah? By who's criteria? How do you measure that? This book is focused on technique and bringing a spirit of experimentation into the kitchen. Including multiple versions of many dishes as well as explanations as to why they work, it's a wonderful resource for anyone who loves to cook.
Dave
